Better grasp of maintenance among older drivers

New research has highlighted a stark contrast between the confidence and abilities of different generations of motorists when it comes to ensuring the proper maintenance of their vehicle.

A poll of 2,000 randomly selected UK car owners aged 18 and over carried out by price comparison website Gocompare.com showed that while just 22 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds say they are able to change a tyre should they need to, this figure rises to 61 per cent for those aged over 55.

Overall, it is a trend replicated across all areas of vehicle maintenance highlighted in the study, including jump-starting a dead battery, replacing a headlight bulb, topping up brake fluid, changing a windscreen wiper and checking tyre tread/depth, plus many more areas besides.

Responding to the results of the survey, Matt Oliver from Gocompare.com car insurance said: "It seems that younger drivers have a lot to learn from older motorists when it comes to car maintenance, with simple tasks like changing a windscreen wiper often leaving them scratching their head.

"What drivers may not realise is that they have a legal obligation to ensure that their car is kept in a roadworthy condition, so knowing how to check the tread on your tyre or change a headlight will help you avoid getting a fine or points on your licence."

Indeed, all vehicle owners must be able to carry out a range of basic tasks in order to properly maintain their vehicle in a roadworthy condition. However, these latest findings show that many younger people may be in need of further help and training to ensure this is the case.

Posted on 26th July 2016

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